The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-07

The table was being prepared fol
lunch; smartly-dressed stewards anC
under-stewards trotted to and fro
there were flowers on the table. vase!
of goldfish swinging from the deck, :
rich thick carpet under foot, comforta
BILE and handsome sofas; a pianofortC
stood against the mizzen-mast, which
was covered with mahogany skin and
gilded; two rows of lamps went the
length of the saloon, and what with
the paintings On the cabin doors, the
curtains, the rich brass-work about the
spacious skylights, the bright sunshine
streaming in upon the whole scene and
kindling a brilliance in the polished
woodwork, the crystal on the table,
the lOoking-glasses at the fore end oi
the saloon-I fairly paused with amaze.
ment, scarcel Y conceiving it possible
that this airy, sunshiny, sumptUous
drawing-room was actually the interior
of ship, and that we were on the sea,
steaming at the rate of so many miles
toward England.
There were several ladies and gentle.
men in the saloon who rose and shook
hands with us. They quite overcame
me with their praise of what they were
pleased to call my heroic actions.
had sense enough to know that these
blushing hOnOrS which were thrust
upon me would be short lived.
So we went on the deck, overhear-
ing one of the ladies talk some non
sense about her never having read or
heard of any thing more de.icately
romantic and exciting than the young
sailor rescuing a pretty girl from q
wreck and falling in love with her.
There were a number of passengers
on deck-men, women and children;
and when ran my eye along the ship
i (the GrosvenOr would have made a
neat long-boat for herr and observed
her dimensions, l thought that a city
might have gone to sea in her without
any inconvenience arising from over
crOwding In word, she was a mag
nificent Clyde-built iron boat of some
! four thousand tons burden, and pro-
PEELED by eight hundred horsepower
engines; her decks white as a yachts,
a shining awning forward and aft; a
short, yellow funnel. towering masts
and broad yards, and embodyi ing every
conceivable --latest Improvement in
compasses, capstans, boat lowering
gear, blocks, gauges, logs, windlass,
and the rest of it. She was steaming
over a smooth sea and under a glori-
Gus. blue sky at the rate of thirteen
knots, or nearly fifteen miles, an hour.
Cool draughtS CT air circled under the
awning and famed my hollow cheeks.
and invigOrated and refreshed me like
cOrGials
The captain was on deck when we
| arrived, and the moment he saw me
he came forward and shook my hand,
offering me many kindly congratula-
tons On my recovery; and with his
own hands placed chairs for me and
Mary near the mizzen-mast Then the
chief officer approached, and most, in
deed think all, of the passengers; and
| believe that, had l been as cynical as
old Diogenes, should have been melt
ed into a hearty faith in human nature
by the sympathy shown me by these
kind people.
They illustrated their goodness best,
perhaps, by Withdrawing, after gen
erous salutation, and resuming their
various employments or discussions,
so as to put me at my ease. The doc
tor and the chief officer stayed little
while talking to US; and then present
ly the tiffin-bell rung, and all the pas
sengers went below, the captain hav-
ing previously suggested that | should
remain on deck, so as to get the bene-
fit of the air, and that he would send
steward to wait upon ME. Mary would
not leave my side; and the officer in
charge taking his station on the bridge
before the funnel. we, to my great sat
isfaction, had the deck almost to our
selves.
You predicted, Mary" I said.
" that our lives would be spared. Your
dream has come true"
Yes; l knew my father would not
deceive me. Would to God he had
been sparedn'
Yet God has been very good to us,
Mary. What 4 change is this from the
deck of the Grosvenor- seas beat
ing over us. the ship laboring as
though at any moment she must go to
pieces-Ourselves tagged to death, and
each of us in our hearts for hours and
hours beholding death face to face!
| feel as though l had no right to be
alive after so much hard work. It's
violation of natural laws, and an i'm
pertinent triumphing of vitality over
the whole forces of nature.
''But you are alive, DEAR and that is
all | care about.
pressed her hand. and after look
ing around me. asked her if she knew
whether this vessel went directly to
Glasgow.
Yes"
Have you any friends there?"
"None. But ! have friends here.
The captain has asked me stay with |
his wife until hear from home"
ITO whom shall you write?"
ITO my aunt in bennington. She |
will come to Glasgow and take me
home. And you" !
ZIP"
l looked at her and smiled.
81? Why, your question puts mat
ter into my head that l must think |
over." /
You are not strong enough to
think. If you begin to think l shall
grow angry"
put must IhlhA, MARY.
"Why?"
Il must think how l am to get to
London, and what am TO do when 1
get there"
When we were on the Grosvenor,"
she said, ''you did all the thinking for
me. didn't you? And now that we are
on the Peri, l mean to do all the think
ing for you. But need not say that.
L have thought my thoughts out 1
have done with them"
Look here, Mary, l am going to be